Make Wood Stain in Any Color

Want to kick your wood finishing techniques up a notch? Try making your own bright colored wood stains then! With this tutorial, you’ll learn how to make custom stain colors easily.

After the amazing-out-of-this-world-discovery-that-changes-everything a few weeks ago (when I found out how to make furniture glazes in any color – ok. maybe I’m being a bit dramatic. Just a little bit though.)

I wanted to see if it would work as a wood stain too – on unfinished wood.

It did…

So now you will not only know how to make glazes in any color, but you’ll now know how to make colored stain too.

I KNOW.

AMAZING.

Disclosure: This post is a collaboration with Velvet Finishes. All opinions and color craziness is 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

How to Make Colored Wood Stain

Supplies Needed:

• Velvet Finishes Enhance Clear Glaze
• Velvet Finishes Colour of Your Choice
• Unfinished Wood (I picked up that cute tray and box at Hobby Lobby.)
• Paint brush
• Lint Free Cloth
• Paper Cup or Plate

Steps

Step 1:

You mix up the stain the same way you mix up the glaze, because, well its the same stuff. The difference is in how you apply it.

Pour a small amount of clear glaze into your cup or plate. Dip your paintbrush into the paint you want to turn into your stain color. You don’t want much at all – then mix the glaze and paint together.

If you are worried about getting too much paint, then start with just a little bit, then add more if needed. The consistency should be pretty watery – similar to a stain. This is a water based stain.

If the stain seems too thick or too saturated with color, you can add water to it.

 Step 2.

Using your paintbrush, brush the stain onto the wood. Unlike with painted wood, the unfinished wood will absorb the stain super quickly, so do light coats so you don’t get more color than you want.

If you want more color, do more coats. Wipe off any excess with a lint free cloth.

Take note: Different types of wood and wood grain will yield different results.

 Step 3: 

Let it dry. Since there isn’t much paint in the stain, I would suggest a coat of Protect or finishing wax to keep your piece pretty.

I created colored stains using the Clear Glaze and:

Enchanting (Green)
Modern (Blue)
Glamorous (Pink)
Bold (Yellow)

You can see with the yellow that I put a bit too much paint in the glaze. You can’t see a lot of the woodgrain.

I think this cute little tray may end up in the circus’s big girl room. Its colorful – like her.

What would you use colored stain on? 

Are you a color lover? Here’s more colorful furniture makeover ideas…

DIY Ottoman Coffee Table – a gorgeous deep teal blue hue paired with upholstery full of color.

DIY Side Table Makeover Ideas – nine colorful ideas for making over a side table.

How to Create a Beachy Color with Paint – give furniture a washed-out beach feel with this tutorial.

Polka Dot Chair Makeover with Painted Upholstery – navy, pink and white polka dots collide in this fun makeover!

Want to remember this colored stain recipe for later? Just pin the image below!

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